Pumping jack



March 23, 1937. D HUMPHREY 2,074,550

PUMPING JACK Filed Dec. 31, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Zlwucnlor 066 .5. Hum 0/1 my March 23, 1937. D 5 H E 2,074,550

PUMPING JACK Filed Dec. 31, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuwwbcvn Snow/MM;

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 PUMPING JACK Dec E. Humphrey,

Dallas, Tex.,

assignor to Welded Tank and Steel Company, Inc., Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application December 31, 1934, Serial No. 759,913

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pumping jacks.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means for pumping wells with a minimum 5 amount of power, thereby reducing the operating costs.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved pumping jack including means positively connected to the walking beam near the end carrying the pump rods for swinging said beam, whereby the usual strain on the beam is eliminated which permits reducing the size and weight of said beam, and also whereby the downstroke, as well as the upstroke, of the beam is positively controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pumping jack including a pair of link members pivoted together, one of the members having its other end pivoted to the walking beam while the other member has its other end pivoted to a fixed support on the base of the jack, and a pitman pivotally secured to both the links at their point of pivotal connection, all the pivot points of the links and pitman being in the same vertical plane as the pump rods, whereby a direct lifting of the beam is accomplished when the lever is swung and also whereby wear on said points is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide toggle links for swinging a walking beam which are arranged so that the angle between them is never less than 90 degrees, and the angle between the upper link and the walking beam, and between the lower link and the base of the jack are never greater than 90 degrees, whereby the links are always relatively past center to reduce the power necessary to operate the same to swing the beam.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means connected to the end carrying the pump rods for swinging said beam, whereby the other end is left free to carry adjustable weights for counterbalancing the weight of the rods, thereby making for smoother operation with less power.

A still further object of the invention is to provide toggle links for swinging a walking beam which are adjustably mounted at their outer ends, whereby the stroke of said beam is readily varied.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by references to the accompanying drawings,

in which an example of the invention is shown,

and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pumping jack, constructed in accordance with the invention.

and showing the walking beam swung to its raised position,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1. showing the beam in a lowered position,

Figure 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, 1

taken on line 3-3, Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of the toggle links and their mounting,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view,

taken on line 6-6 or Figure 1,

Figure 7 is transverse, vertical sectional view.

taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2,

Figure 8 is an enlarged isometric view of the pivotal connection between the links and pitman,

and

Figure 9 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view, showing a hydraulic piston operating the pitman.

In the drawings, the numeral Ill designates a base plate on which a Samson post I l is mounted.

The post may be of any suitable structure, but is preferably constructed of a vertical I-bcam l2 sides of a base plate Ill'f rigid, as well as, inexpensive structure, for supporting the usual bearing It on which the walking beam I5 is mounted. The walking beam is preferably constructed of an I-beam mounted lo swing on said bearing.

One end of the beam,

which for sake of clarity, will be referred to as the forward end, has the pump rods 16 fastened thereto and these rods depend into the well In be pumped.

pump the well.

It is obvious that the swinging of the beam will reciprocate the rods vertically to The usual practice has been to attach a pitman on the rear end of the beam to swing the samv. The pitman operates to swing the beam to raise the rods, and the weight of said rods is depended on to lower the rods.

the beam at a point between the bearing and the forward end which carries the rods. causing the To overcome this breaking, the beam must be made of a larger beam to break at the point.

size and weight to carry the strain.

Also, an-

This places the strain on r other disadvantage is that, by depending on the weight of the pump rods to lower the same on the downstroke, a Jerky and uneven stroke is had. Also, the tendency of the rods is to telescope each other for there is no positive control of their lowering.

For overcoming these disadvantages and swinging the beam, a pair of toggle links I I and H are provided. The links are mounted at a point between the bearing H and the forward end of said beam which carries the rods l6 and are in vertical alinement with said rods. Said links are of equal lengths and are pivoted to each other by a pin [8. The upper end of the link i1 is pivoted in ears 20 (Figure 5) of a clamp 2|. The clamp comprises a bracket 20' which engages the underside of the beam l5 and clamping plates 2i which engage the base flange of said beam. Bolts 22 pass through openings in the plates and openings 22' in the base flange of the beam and receive nuts 23' to fasten the clamp on said beam. A plurality of openings 22' are formed in the base flange so that the clamp may be secured in various positions along said beam. The lower toggle link I1 is pivoted in a bearing box 23 which is fastened to the base plate ill by bolts 24. The plate is provided with a plurality of bolt holes 25, whereby the box may be secured thereon in various longitudinal positions. It is obvious that with the above arrangement, swinging of the inner ends of the toggle links will swing the beam I i to raise and lower the pump rods l8. By moving the clamp 2| longitudinally on the beam to change its position with relation to the pivot 5 point of the beam, which is the bearing I4, and

also by adjusting the bearing box 22 longitudinally of the base plate Ill, it is possible to vary the length of the stroke of the links, thereby y g the swing of said beam. These adjustments are made quickly and easily by moving the bolts 22 and 2| into different of the bolt holes 22' and 25 respectively.

For operating the toggle links to swing the beam a pitman 26 has one end pivoted on the pin II which connects the inner ends oi said links. This pitman is mounted in vertical alinement with the links and extends through a vertical slot 21 formed in the I-beam i2. Guide angles 22 (Figure 6) are formed on each side of said slot and serve to hold the pitman in alinement during its reciprocation. The other end of the pitman is fastened to the outer end of a crank arm 29 which is mounted on the shaft Ill of an electric, or other motor ll. As the crank rotates the pitman is reciprocated to operate the toggle links to swing the beam and raise and lower the pump rods I6. It is pointed out that due to the positive fastening of the links to the beam and also the positive control of the reciprocation of the pitman, the forward end of the beam carrying the rods i6, is pushed upwardly. This power necessary to raise the beam at this point is much less than if the pull was from the other end of the beam, thereby permitting the beam to be operated at a reduced power output. Also, by pushing upwardly from this end the strain on the beam is relieved because the toggle links ll and ll, rather than the beam itself carry the load, whereby the beam may be made of a smaller size and weight which is less expensive, and also whereby all danger of said beam breaking at the point of strain is eliminated. Further, the positive attachment of the crank 29 to the pitman positively controls the reciprocation of the pitman, whereby the downstroke oi the pump rods, as well as the upstroke, is controlled, The device does not depend on the rods IE to pull the beam downwardly but instead controls this downstroke, whereby an even, smooth stroke is bad at all times. The pitman 26 may be provided with an extension 26' at its forward end, so that the pull rods of another well may be connected thereto.

By mounting the links as shown, the rear end of the beam i5 is left free to receive counterweights 32. The weights may be made of any heavy material and formed with I-shaped openings 33 (Figure 7) whereby each weight may be slipped over said beam. For holding the weights in various positions on the beam, a pair of longitudinally extending screw-threaded rods 34 are mounted on the beam above and below the same. These rods pass through openings 35 in the weights and lock nuts 36 serve to hold the weights in any position therealong. It is obvious that any desired number of weights may be mounted on the beam, and these weights efficiently counterbalance the weight of the pump rods i6, whereby power necessary to raise the rods in the well is greatly reduced. It has been found that by using the links and counterweights, a 3 H. P. motor can operate a well which, formerly needed a 30 H. P. motor with the ordinary pumping units.

It is pointed out that the links and pitman. together with all their pivot points are in direct vertical alinement with the walking beam and pump rods i6. Since the pivot points carry the load, it is obvious that by so alining them, wear is greatly reduced on said pivots. The angles 28 on each side of the slot 21, through which the pitman reciprocates, positively guide the pitman in a vertical plane. The mounting of the links I1 and I1 between the bearing l4 and the forward end 01' the beam is also important. With the links in the position shown in Figure l, the beam is in a lowered position with the rods lowered in the well. At this time, the pitman must be moved forwardly to raise the beam. It is pointed out that the angle A between the links is greater than degrees which will take a great deal less power to move the links to the position shown in Figure 2, than if this angle were less than 90 degrees. Also, in Figure l, the angles B between the links and the members to which their other ends are attached are less than 45 degrees. When the beam is raised, as shown in Figure 2, the angle between the links and the members to which they are attached is 90 de- .grees or slightly less and therefore it is obvious that at the start of the upstroke the links are past the center of the angle through which they swing, whereby less power is necessary to operate them. Although it has been found that most efficient results have been obtained if the angle A is never less than 90 degrees and the angles B are never less than 45 degrees, it is pointed out that the links could be operated if the angles were otherwise, but more power would be necessary to swing the beam. It is the connection of the links at the point of strain on the beam which decreases the necessary power. Also by employing the toggle links, a longer stroke of the beam may be had without increasing the length of the beam because of the connection of the links near the forward end of said beam. It is further brought out that by positively con necting the beam to the links, and counterbalancing said beam, there is no danger of the power unit being damaged in case the pump rods l6 break and fall to the bottom of the well. In such case, the beam will continue to swing because it is positively connected to the links.

Although I have shown a crank connected with an operating pitman 25, it is obvious that any desired power may be employed to reciprocate said pitman. In Figure 9, I have shown another form of power unit, wherein a hydraulic piston 40, operates in a cylinder 4| and is connected to said pitman. Hydraulic fluid is conducted to the cylinder by supply lines 42 and 43. The outgoing fluid on the downstroke oi the beam serves to cushion the rods in their descent into the well. It is clear that various ways of transmitting motion to the pitman may be worked out.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A pump jack comprising, a vertical suppor having a vertically slotted opening therethrough, a walking beam fulcrumed on the support, a pair of toggle links positioned in the same longitudinal plane with the support and having the up per end portion of its upper member adjustably pivoted to said beam forwardly of its fulcrum, and a pitman pivoted to the toggle links at their pivotal connection to positively push and pull said links to rock the beam, said pitman extending through the vertically slotted opening in the support, whereby the pitman is guided during its reciprocation in direct alinement in a vertical plane with said links.

2. A pump jack comprising, a support, a walking beam fulcrumed on said support, a pair of toggle links having the upper end portion of its upper member pivoted to the beam forwardly of a the fulcrum and having the lower end portion of its lower member pivoted to a fixed support, and a rigid pitman pivoted to the links at their pivotal connection for operating said links, the links in the broken condition of the toggle being positioned at an angle greater than 90 degrees with relation to each other, and at an angle greater than 45 degrees with relation to the beam and fixed support when the beam is in pump rod lowered position, and at an angle of approximately 180 degrees with relation to each other and at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with relation to the beam and support when said beam is in pump rod raised position.

3. A pump jack comprising, a vertical marginaliy flanged support having a vertical slotted opening therethrough and reinforcing flanges on opposite sides of the slot, a beam fulcrumed on the support, a pair of toggle links positioned in the same vertical plane with the support and having its upper end pivoted to said beam forwardly of its fulcrum, a pitman of the push and pull type pivoted to the links at their pivotal connection to push and pull said links to rock the beam, said pitman extending through the opening in and between the flanges on the support, whereby the pitman is guided during its reciprocation in direct alinement in a vertical plane with said links, and counterbalancing means mounted on the rear end of said beam.

4. A pump jack comprising, a support, a walking beam fulcrumed on the support and having pump rods suspended from one end thereof, a pair of toggle links having its upper member pivotally secured to the beam between the fulcrum and said rods and having its lower member pivoted to a fixed support vertically therebelow, a rigid pitman of the push. and pull type pivoted to the toggle links at their pivotal connection for operating said links to swing the beam and reciprocate the rods, and means for varying the pivots of the links on the beam and fixed support to vary the stroke of the beam, said links being positioned in working relation to each other at an angle greater than ninety degrees and with relation to the walking beam and fixed support at an angle greater than fortyfive degrees each.

5. A pump Jack comprising, a vertical support, a walking beam iulcrumed on said support, a pair of toggle links having its upper member pivoted to the beam forwardly of the fulcrum and its lower member pivoted to a support substantiallyin vertical alinement therebelow, a rigid pitman positlvely connected to the toggle links at their pivotal connection to push and pull said links to exert a direct push on the upstroke and to retard the downstroke of said beam, means on said vertical support for guiding said pitman in a vertical plane during its operation, and means for changing the upper and lower pivots of the links to carry the stroke of the beam.

DEE E. HUMPKREY. 

